Jockey Christian Cardenas rides Bigg Allstar to the fastest qualifying time for the $150,000-added New Mexico Classic Derby [RG2] on Sunday at Zia Park.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOBBS, NM—NOVEMBER 2, 2025—Big Allstar, a 3-year-old gelding by leading New Mexico sire Big Daddy Cartel out of Woodys Allstar by Woodbridge, posted the fastest qualifying time from three trials run Sunday at Zia Park for the $150,000-added New Mexico Classic Derby [RG2].

The accredited New Mexico-bred stopped the timer in 19.152 seconds over 400 yards while facing a 9 mph headwind to earn a 98 speed index and the top qualifying spot for the November 23 final.

Owned by Denis and Julie Schoenhofer and bred by MJ Farms, Big Allstar was ridden to victory by Christian Cardenas for trainer Sebastian Gonzales. The sorrel gelding, who dueled early before edging clear, defeated stablemate Row By Row by a half-length in the second of three trials.

Big Allstar, a $58,000 purchase at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, has won four of 12 career starts and banked $137,366. He was second in the New Mexico Classic Futurity (RG2) last year.

Row By Row, also by Big Daddy Cartel, turned in the second-fastest qualifying time of 19.237 seconds with a 96 speed index after recovering from a stumble at the break.

The bay gelding out of Anakena by Woodbridge is owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Fierro EJ Racing Stables, LLC, trained by Ramon Mendoza, and ridden by Sergio Becerra, Jr.

Second in the fastest trial, Row By Row was a $60,000 purchase at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, bred by MJ Farms. The multiple graded-placed gelding has earned nearly $250,000.

The third-fastest qualifier, Alamos, won the opening trial with a time of 19.310 seconds and a 94 speed index in a wire-to-wire effort under Christian Ramos. The sorrel gelding is also from the family of Anakena by Woodbridge, sired by Eye Am King, bred by MJ Farms, and owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership.

Trained by Tony E. Sedillo, Alamos was a $185,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. He is a multiple graded stakes finalist with earnings of $58,121.

Six of the ten qualifiers, including the top three, were bred by MJ Farms.

The ten fastest qualifiers from Sunday’s three 400-yard trials will return to Zia Park on Monday, November 23, to compete for the $150,000-added purse in the New Mexico Classic Derby [RG2] final. CLICK HERE for a complete list with times, breeding lines, and connections.

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